The more I pray with the Scriptures having to do with Mary Magdalene, the more drawn in to her love for Jesus I am. Mary’s relationship with Jesus was unique in that she got to be with him in person, but still many of the aspects of their relationship are available to us too. In this series of paintings, I wanted to dive into their relationship and explore what kind of connection between them could have led her to grieve him so deeply when he died. This series is founded first of all on what Scripture has to say about Mary, beginning with her being possessed by seven demons and culminating in her interactions with Jesus through his passion, death, and resurrection. I weave moments of prayer into the series; the Jewish people prayed the psalms, and so this is not only a way to enter into their life but also a way to enter into Jesus’ own heart, as this formed a huge part of his own prayer. I include everyday tasks, because I want to enter into the everyday moments that were part of the whole of their lives. And I draw from my own experiences of prayer and with the people in my life who have loved me best, the people whose love has revealed to me how Jesus loves. As I painted, I was struck by how each moment alone held something so rich, but all of them together enrich the rest. That’s like our relationship with Jesus. The more moments we share, the richer is each moment in the relationship.
Grief is a profound expression of love. A deep, gut-wrenching grief says something beautiful about the love the bereaved has for the person who was lost. It reveals the depth of connection between them. Mary’s grief for Jesus is piercing, and speaks of a profound bond between them. I hope this series creates a glimpse into the sort of love that would lead her to grieve him so deeply. And I hope it opens the door a little wider into the kind of relationship Jesus offers to each of us.
With him went the twelve, as well as certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and ailments: Mary surnamed the Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out…
Luke 8:1-2
Large numbers of people followed him, and of women too, who mourned and lamented for him.
Luke 23: 27
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary of Magdala.
John 19: 25
Mary stayed outside near the tomb, weeping.
John 20: 11
She turned round and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not recognize him. Jesus said, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him.’ Jesus said, ‘Mary!’
John 20: 14-16
Jesus said, ‘Mary!’
She knew him then.
John 20:16
